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Rachel Hansen combines faith, family and friends

Rachel Hansen sings and plays guitar in the band License to Live with her brothers, Nathan (lead guitar), Luke (drums) and family friend, Derek (bass). Rachel is a PSEO student at RCTC.

Rachel Hansen is a guitarist and singer for License to Live. Photo by Andrew Link.

Music background

“I started playing guitar and taking lessons about three years ago, but I didn’t think I knew how to sing. I wasn’t comfortable enough to sing in front of people at first, but I got up the courage and then I was told I had a good voice.”

Firsts

“The first time I sang in front of people, I was very, very nervous. But once I got up on stage and saw everyone having a good time and singing along, it was such an adrenaline rush.”

Keeping the faith

“We usually play a couple of worship songs in each gig we get, but we don’t like to classify ourselves as a ‘Christian band.’ We would rather just be ‘Christians who are in a band’ and show our faith through our actions.”

Nobody can drag me down

“We perform our own rocked up version of ‘Royals’ by Lorde, and we also play ‘Story of My Life’ by One Direction. My brother said the only way he would play a song by One Direction is if he could do his own guitar solo in it.”

On a mission

“I have gone on two mission trips to Haiti, and I took my guitar with me both times. Just being able to play guitar with some of the kids there and have them sing with me brought them out of their shells.”

Frozen

“It took a long time to build up my confidence, and stage presence was difficult for me. I didn’t even move around on the stage – I just stood there like a statue.”

For future study

“I am hoping to go to WSU and major in music therapy because music makes me feel better. I want to create that for other people.”

Favorite place to play

“There is something about having a band on the same level as the audience that makes it more intimate than if a band is on a stage.”

Musical style

License to Live plays a variety of rock, country, alternative, and Christian music.

Where to find Rachel Hansen

License to Live will be playing at Whistle Binkies Olde World Pub on Saturday, June 11; the Underground Music Café in Falcon Heights on Monday, June 20; and at Fireside Junction in Plainview on Saturday, July 16.